Ding shows steel, catches Gukesh by surprise to win opening game

Indian teenager, playing with White, resigns after 42 moves as the Chinese current champion strikes first in the 14-game match

- Susan Ninan

What's the mark of a champion? It's when you've forgotten what a win feels like and you still manage to find the steel in you. Ding Liren hadn't won a classical game in 304 days when he walked into the soundproofed, fishtank-like playing arena at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore for Game 1 on Monday.

His challenger - India's D Gukesh - was already seated at the board in his giant-sized gaming chair. They shook hands and the Chinese settled into his regular-sized, unobtrusive-looking ergonomic chair.

The players had apparently picked out their chairs from seven options that they were offered by the organisers. Ding made the most of his choice and didn't leave his chair for close to four hours. When he finally did, it was after move 41, with victory in the bag. Time control had been reached and Gukesh sat forlorn, by himself, with face buried in his hands. He had a fresh 30 minutes on the clock but there were no more ideas or resources for White. The game had slipped away.

The reigning world champion had masterfully placed his teen-aged opponent in a chokehold, opening the match with a 1-0 lead. This is Ding's third classical win with Black against Gukesh. It's also the first time since Viswanathan Anand's 2010 World Championship match against Veselin Topalov that a decisive result has been seen in Game 1. Back then, Anand too had lost with White pieces in Game 1 but he eventually went on to win the match.